PUTRAJAYA: The Health Ministry has recorded 100 heat-related cases for treatment at government health facilities since March 1 until Sunday following the current hot weather.

Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said of the total cases, 22 were for heat cramp, heat exhaustion (63), heat stroke (14) including one death in Segamat, Johor.

However, he said, from daily observation of cases reported from March 22 until Sunday, there was a drop in the number of cases for heat cramp and heat exhaustion with no cases of heat stroke.
"The extreme hot weather can cause a person to sweat often and as a result there will be less liquid in the body.

"It will also cause a person to feel tired easily and weak, as well as dehydration and heat stroke," he said in a statement here Monday.

Dr Noor Hisham advised children and senior citizens to take extra care of their health, and the public to postpone plans to carry out extreme activities or sports, like kayaking, cycling, marathon and mountain climbing.

"If it cannot be avoided, they should shorten the period of their activity or rest for a longer time and drink a lot of water,” he added. - Bernama

KUALA TERENGGANU: Schools in Terengganu cannot conduct outdoor activities for students between 12.30pm and 2.30pm during the El Nino phenomenon.

State Education director Shafruddin Ali Hussin said this was a precautionary measure, although temperatures predicted for this week were still below 35°C.

“Children are always active, and from my visits to several schools since the El Nino, I found them still excited and participating in activities held at their schools, although some have to be conducted in classrooms.

“For co-curricular activities held every Tuesday afternoon, the schools have been informed to continue activities in the building to keep students away from direct sunlight and prevent them from getting heatstroke,” he said yesterday.

He said various initiatives were also made by Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) in schools to address the El Nino situation.

“Some PTAs provide free drinks to students and there are also schools which received sponsorship from private companies.

“Schools which do not provide free drinks are required to ensure there is always enough water supply, like at the water vending machine and at the canteen,” he added.

The first case of heatstroke in Terengganu was reported last Saturday, involving a policeman who collapsed during a parade to commemorate the 209th Police Day celebration.

The policeman regained consciousness while on the way to the Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital.

He was allowed to return home after treatment the same day. — Bernama

No outdoor activities at schools until further notice
CAVINA LIM The Star 29 Mar 16;

GEORGE TOWN: Schools in the northern region will abide by the Education Ministry’s directive to suspend all outdoor activities due to the heatwave.

St Xavier’s Institution’s acting principal Dr Sim Hock Keat said the school had not allowed any outdoor activities since the directive was issued last week.

“Indoor co-curricular activities will go on as usual as they are conducted in classrooms. There are also certain activities which are held at the school hall.

“PJ (Pendidikan Jasmani dan Kesihatan) lessons have been stopped and only theory lessons are conducted in classrooms. All sports practices are also postponed,” he said yesterday.

Dr Sim said there had been too many heatstroke cases.

“We cannot take this kind of risk under such extraordinary temperatures,” he added.

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